The Deanery, Chapel Road, Southampton (OASIS ID wessexar1-97044)

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to carry out archaeological field work on land at The Deanery, Chapel Road, Southampton (NGR 442700 111550). The Site is located within the known extent of the nationally important Mid-Saxon settlement of Hamwic. Excavation was undertaken between August and October 2008 on an east to west aligned rectangle of 63m by 29m (1786m2) situated c. 10m to the south of the present Chapel Road. The latter is regarded as being of Saxon origin linking St Mary's church with the water front on the River Itchen. A watching brief was maintained during excavations for foundations across the rest of the site between July and December 2008. The archaeological features exposed comprised pits, wells, ditches, gullies, a possible hearth and postholes. Pits were the most numerous features (112 of the 166 features). The only discernible buildings recognised in the excavation area comprised a small, irregular possible structure, formed by four postholes and a gully of Saxon date and a short length of late medieval or early post-medieval wall footing recorded in an earlier evaluation trench, immediately to the west of the area excavation.The excavation has confirmed the continuity of activity associated with Mid-Saxon Hamwic (7th - 9th centuries AD) which has been recorded in this part of modern Southampton and within earlier evaluations and excavations on the Site.